which 23 would you chose today if you had to name the squad!
Mine is:
1) R Greene
2) G Johnson
3) L Bianes
4) S Gerrard
5) R Ferdiand
6) J Terry
7) T Walcott
8) F Lampard
9) W Rooney
10) J Defoe
11) G Barry
12) G Nevile
13) D James
14) S Warnock
15) M Dawson
16) M Upson
17) A Young
18) J Milner
19) J Hart
20) S Downing
21) M Carrick
22) P Crouch
23) D Bent
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Comments
Defenders: Johnson, Ferdinand, Terry, Cole, Baines, Upson, Brown = 7
Midfield: Lampard, Barry, Gerrard, Walcott, Milner, A Young, A Johnson, Carrick = 8
Strikers: Rooney, Crouch, Defoe, Bent, Heskey = 5
I've left out Lennon because he's injured. Would possibly swap Dawson or King (depending on fitness) for Upson. It'll be nothing like the above though.
I've left Robert Green out because he is rubbish.
Cole and Brown would be ruled out through injury.
G.Johnson, G.Neville, Terry, Ferdinand, Jagielka, Lescott, Baines,
Walcott, S.Wright-Phillips, Gerrard, Lampard, Barry, Parker, Milner, A.Johnson
Rooney, Heskey, Crouch, Bent, Defoe
One left back as Lescott or Barry could play there if need be. Tempted by Warnock or Konchesky though.
No Green or Upson - Do I need to explain why?
No C.Cole as Crouch is Heskey's back up and both Bent and Defoe offer something different.
Parker ahead of Carrick - better player in my opinion. Could rough up Spain if needed. Carrick hasn't got that in him. Would take Hargreaves instead if fit though.
G.Neville and A.Johnson as wild cards.
Wright-Phillips instead of A.Young as he always seems to perform for England - tough call though. No Lennon due to injury but I'd take him ahead of SWP if fit.
In my mind taking 3 keepers instead of 2 has always appeared as a waste of an outfield player.
If you are unlucky enough to suffer 2 injured keepers, then my logic says the cup doesn't have your name on it, pack your bags and go home!
Like you suggest, it might be on the insistance of FIFA regarding 3 keepers.
baines , warnock , johnson , neville , terry , ferdinand , lescott , upson = 8
wright phillips , young , lampard , gerrard , parker/hargreaves (depends on fitness for hargreaves) , arteta ???, milner , a jonhson = 9
rooney , defoe . crouch , bent , heskey = 5
Carlos Cuellar
Mikel Arteta
Manuel Almunia (he's crap but you know)
Charles N'Zogbia
Sylvain Distin
Assuming A Cole and Beckham unavailable, Lennon fit and 3 keepers...
Keepers: James, Robinson, Hart (3)
Defenders: Ferdinand, Terry, Dawson, Neville, Johnson, Jagielka, Baines (7)
Midfielders: Gerrard, Carrick, Barry, Lennon, Milner, Huddlestone, J Cole, Young, Walcott (9)
Forwards: W Rooney, P Crouch, J Defoe, E Heskey (4)
Standby: Bent, Davies (Bolton), Johnson (Birmingham), Warnock, Downing.
If you dont have to have 3 keepers, leave out Hart and take Darren Bent.
Terribly difficult to decide. I have to say although I love him to bits, I'd leave out Ledley King completely. You cant risk him breaking down in training. Gone with 4 recognised Centre Halves, got cover for each full back, would actually start with Barry at LB, Neville at RB. 4 recognised CMs, 2 RMs (Lennon/Walcott), 2 LMs (Milner/Young), knowing Cole and Walcott could quite easily fill in up front or behind Rooney if required. The usual 4 up front, Rooney picks himself, and plays well with Heskey, then Defoe and Crouch as a pairing god forbid anything happens to Rooney.
Lastly, I left out Frank Lampard. I'd rather see Gerard played in his natural position than being forced out of position to get Lampard in the team. For me, its all about balance. When Lampard and Gerard play together, it just doesnt work full stop.
G. Johnson, G. Neville, Terry, Ferdinand, Lescott, Jagielka, Baines, A. Cole
Walcott, Milner, Lennon, Barry, Lampard, Carrick, Gerrard, Downing
Rooney, Crouch, Defoe, Bent.
The caveats...
Robinson needs to get back to fitness and play for Blackburn without side-effect by the end of the season or Robert Green will replace him
If A.Cole doesn't get back to fitness then Warnock is my replacement
If Lescott doesn't make it then I'd like Dawson to go
In the likelihood that Lennon isn't fit then I'm really clutching at straws... I'd take Ashley Young but Capello would go for SWP
Any niggles up front and Agbonlahor is my reserve "little man" and Heskey my reserve "big man" up front
I have gone on the basis that W Brown, A lennon, A Cole and J Lescott are all not fit. Forgot about Barry playing LB as well so would take out Warnock and replace with Heskey for anotehr big man.
Milner...Terry...Ferdinand....A Cole
.....Lampard...Barry...Gerrard......
Lennon......Defoe......Rooney......
GK - James, Robinson (3 total)
Def - G Johnson, Baines, Jagielka, R Johnson (7 total)
Mid - Walcott, A Young, Parker or Hargreaves (8 total)
Att - Bent, Crouch, Heskey (5 total)
Good system, wrong players. Milner would be wasted at right back, especially when you've got a decent attacking full back in Johnson. Defoe would not be able to play in the middle of 3 forwards either. England aren't Barcelona.
I would stick with Capello's (successful) system, but if I were to play 4-3-3 It would be with Heskey/Crouch/Rooney in the middle with Lennon and A.Johnson either side.
Carrick is extremely overrated.
Barton is no longer viable.
Nor is Nolan sadly.
Bowyer could be a surprise pick.
Gardener not really proven yet.
Cattermole not had a consistent run I don't think.
Rodwell is a quality player, feel he is a bit too inexperienced and young though.
In fact, scrub that, drop Parker out of my squad and stick Rodwell in.
Milner...Terry...Ferdinand....A Cole
.....Lampard...Barry...Gerrard......
Lennon......Defoe......Rooney......
GK - James, Robinson (3 total)
Def - G Johnson, Baines, Jagielka, R Johnson (7 total)
Mid - Walcott, A Young, Parker or Hargreaves (8 total)
Att - Bent, Crouch, Heskey (5 total)[/quote]
Good system, wrong players. Milner would be wasted at right back, especially when you've got a decent attacking full back in Johnson. Defoe would not be able to play in the middle of 3 forwards either. England aren't Barcelona.
I would stick with Capello's (successful) system, but if I were to play 4-3-3 It would be with Heskey/Crouch/Rooney in the middle with Lennon and A.Johnson either side.[/quote]
I'd expect Rooney & Defoe to be interchanging a lot.
Milner is far more intelligent than Johnson and I reckon could play that role better. I'd be looking for him & Cole to almost play as wing backs, with Barry dropping deeper if he has to.
Although ideally I liked the way Baines & Milner played together, albeit for 20 minutes or so, against Egypt the other week.
If Cole was injured, I'd have Baines & Milner down the left, a very solid and workmanlike partnership who also get forward and can create.
Would be concerned with Lennon & Johnson on the right being exposed though.
Quite. Apart from his misplaced pass that set Liverpool on their way to score and another few errors Tuesday that allowed Munich to threaten.
When he has time, (eg v Egypt) he can pick a pass well. But when the play is a little more congested and tight, he seems to rush a little, his control gets heavy and then his passing is snatched and becomes a little more wayward.
In my opinion Gerrard is a far better passer than Carrick. As is Scholes. & Milner.
I just don't really think he is as talented as the media make out and that's without adding in his west ham connections!
Huddlestone is another. He should be a superb player, he looks to possess the size to dominate and outmuscle the midfield, but he rarely does. He shows glimpses of graceful and incisive passing, then reverts back to giving it away. He will hit a thunderous shot, but hit many wayward ones. He just looks a yard off the pace in all areas, needs to lose some timber & sharpen his brain!
He won't play professional football again.
Since when has Gerrard been a central midfielder? He rarely (if ever) plays there for Liverpool. We would get ripped to pieces if he played centre midfield. Interesting to see a majority leave Robert Green out - I too am surprised Fabio rates him above James, Hart and Robbo.
2- Glen Johnson
3- A Cole
4- Gerrard
5- Ferdinand
6- Terry
7- Lennon
8- Lampard
9- Heskey
10- Rooney
11- Barry
12- Wes Brown if fit as we need versatlity. There will be inevitable injuries especially with Ferdinand and his dodgy back.
13- Rob Green
14- Lescott
15- Upson (would rather Dawson or Cahill but Upson is a cert imho)
16- Carrick
17- Walcott
18- Milner
19- A Johnson (dark horse, if not would not be shocked to see J Cole or Downing on the plane)
20- Crouch
21- Bent
22- Defoe
23- Hart
He's pants IMHO. Owen the Canadian/German Englishman all day every day.